I hope you’re enjoying these last few days of summer before we all start our new year.Its time to check your bows for rehairs if necessary and stock up on extra strings.I also have dates for classes and our recital, this time after the winter holidays.

Now its time to get out your calendars and colored pencils!

Our etude class will return to Thursday evenings, but I’d like to start at 6:30 since many of you had trouble being here by 6:00 because of the traffic.

The younger class will be Saturdays at 11 a.m.

Lessons at the new fall times will start on Tuesday, Sept. 4th, and our first classes will be the following Thursday and Saturday.

I will be out of town from Sept. 21st to October 4th.That would be a good time to set up rehearsal times with Claudia Chen. As always, please ensure that the a copy of the piano parts are with her in advance as soon as you know what pieces you’ll be performing.You can do that directly or leave the parts with me.

The Mary West Competition (formerly MNSOTA) will be held this year on Oct. 28.The application postmark deadline is September 28, and the Winners’ Recital is November 4.The application can be downloaded from www.MNSOYA.org.My member number is 31169.Please remember to discuss repertoire with me.Please also remember that Claudia Chen does not play in this competition, so calling Susan Garrelts or Charles Kemper early is a good idea.